Golf-game apparatus



Seit. 21,1926.

- F. S. KEELER GOLF GAIIE' APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet1 W /vwemtoz Sepi. 21 1926.

' F; S. KEELER I sow ens APPARATUS Filed April 29. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2waif W another are adapted to produce the result Patented Sept. 21,1926.

UNITED STATES.

FREDERICK S. KEEL'ER, OF-NEW YORK, N. Y.

GOLF-GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed April 29, 1921. Serial No. 465,384.

My invention relates to an indoor golf game and is more particularlyintended to reproduce indoors the conditions of an ac 'tual outdoor golfgame; that is to say, to afford a playerv d liculties to be overcomecomparable to'those encountered in a standard outdoor game, whichdifficulties are overcome in substantially the same manner, the skill ofthe player being rewarded and his errors being penalized in the samemanher as in the outdoor game. To this end my invention includes playingimplements which when used in combination with one sought. My inventionalso includes certain constructions of' the various implements, such asthe clubs, balls and holes.

In order to achieve the results of my invention, it is essential thatthe various implements be of a character adapted for the extremely shortdistanceencountered in an indoor game, but at the same time theimplements must be so related as to reproduce upon a small scale theoperation and effects of the corresponding implements in the standardgame. For instance, the club intendedfor use in connection with myinvention is of such a character that it would be totally inoperativewith a standard ball and the ball is of such a character as to betotally inoperative with a standard club. In my invention the ball andclub are so related that they are operative to produce the desiredresults in an indoor games In the drawings, I have shown- In Figs. 1 and2, a club designed for use in the game of my invention;

In Fig. 3, a modification of the club shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

In Figs. l and 5, a hole; and

In Fig. 6, a sectional view of a ball.

The club is preferably made from thin sheet metal cut in the form shownin Fig. 1, the blank comprising a playing face 1 and an extension 2which is adapted to be wrapped around the shaft of the club 3 to hold itin place. The playing face of the club may be inclined to a greater orless extent from the vertical, so as to form clubs corresponding to theputter, mid-iron, mashie,-etc. If desired, a sharp lower edge whichmight injure carpets may be avoided and the club may be given the effectof thickness on the bottom by bending over the blank in a directionapproximately at parallel to the floor, as illustrated'in Fig. 3.

The ball is preferably made of celluloid, or some similar material and'may conveniently be made by forming two hemispheres i and 5 joined onthe line 6. The surface of the ball may be either plain, or. marked as1n a standard golf ball, to obtain a greater grip upon the playing faceof the club, The ball is so arranged that while it is of extremely lightweight, all of the weight is concentrated near the surface, whichenables the ball to respond to the greatest extent to the movement ofthe club. t

With a ball and club so made and proportioned as to weight, I can obtaina very exact reproduction of the conditions of actual playing in astandard game. The ball will respond to a slice or pull of the club, maybe given a back spin to drop dead, may be lofted, and when putted givesthe player very much the same sensation as putting a standard golfballwith a standard club.

The game may be played upon a carpet'to simulate the turf and piecesoffurniture may be used to simulate'bunkers or other obstacles upon orover which the ball may be played as in a standard game. The holesordinarily used in an indoor golf game, comprising a shallow frustrum ofa cone may be used, these holes being only ofsuiiicient dept-h'to holdthe ball, that is to say, of a depth approximating the radiusof theball. In some holes I prefer to use a ,hole of my invention to simulatea tricky green; i. e., one in which the ball 'willroll away from thehole unless putted straight for it. Such a hole may comprise a hollowinverted dish formed of sheet metal, paste board,

or other suitable material, such as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, inwhich the depth of the hole is considerably greater than the radius ofthe ball. The trickiness of the green may be varied by varying the depthof the hole or the declivity of its sides.

It will be evident that many modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit of my invention and I therefore do not intend to beconfined to the specific mode ification illustrated and described.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A golf game intended for comprising a club having a head formed ofindoor use sheet metal and a shaft, the head having integrally formedtherewith an extension adapted to be wrapped about the shaft to securethe head thereto,

2. A golf game intended for indoor use comprisinga club having a headformed of sheet metal of a wei ht insufficient to propel a standard golfball and a shaft, the head having an integrally formed sheet metalextension adapted to be conformed to the shape of the lower end of theshaft and to be Wrapped about the shaft to secure the head thereto.

3. A golf club comprising a head formed of sheet metal and having onerounded protecting edge, and an element formed integral with said headand adapted to be wrapped whereby said element may form a socket. j

4. A golf club formed offlexible sheet metal and comprising a headhaving a flanged lower edge, and an integrally formed extension adaptedto be wrapped about the lower end of a shaft whereby a socket. is formedto secure said head to a shaft.

5. A blank for a golf club head and socket comprising a single piece ofsheet metal having a substantially rectangular forward portion and arear portion angularly disposed with relation to said forward portion,said rear portion having one edge thereof formed in regular continuationof the lower edge of the above mentioned forward portion.

6. A blank for a golf club head and socket comprising a single piece ofsheet metal having a substantially rectangular forward sec tion and arear section angularly disposed with relation thereto, a portion of saidrear weights of said golfclub and said ball being substantially andproportionately below the weights of standard units and their dimensionssubstantially equal to standard units.

10. An indoor golf game apparatus comprising a light, hollow ball, aplurality of hollow frusto-conical holes of greater depth than thediameter of said ball, said holes being adapted to be in various placesin a room or the like to simulate agolf course and to receive said ball,and a club provided with a sheet metal head for propelling said ball,the weights of said golf club and said ball being substantiallyandproportionately be low the weights of standard units and their saidgolf club and said ball being substantially and proportionately belowthe weights of standard units and their dimensions substantially equalto standard units.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this26th day of April, 1921. v

FREDERICK S. KEELER.

